The joy of being around for a while

Saturday Night was the annual draft of the nmc boyz Fantasy Football league. The league is going into its 6th season. It started with a crew of guys who were graduating, and a few of the adults who had invested in them.

I actually explained why I love Fantasy Football and this league last year in this post.

Here's what was cool about this year. I realized what a joy and privilege it is watching people grow up (physically and spiritually.) All the "students" in the league are now graduated from College. Here's the owners and what's going on in their lives.

• Kyle Lantz - Graduated from Taylor University. Heading back to Taylor for Graduate studies. Making a significant impact wherever he goes.
• Adam Cramer - Graduated from Bethel. Associate Director of Youth Minsitry at St Mark Missionary Church.
• Eric Gingerich - Couldn't be at the draft because after graduating from IWU this year, he is spending the next few months in the Dominican Republic working with Score International.
• Ben Knisley - Ben joined us over the phone from San Diego. He just graduated from Taylor and is on the next leg of the journey in his life.
• Marty Graverson - One of my best friends. He's been diving into the lives of students for several years now.
• Terry Bley - Couldn't be there because he was speaking at a youth camp in Ohio.
• Ted Gerring - Graduated from IWU in '06, now living in Chicago, working with INTRSCT ministry, and seeking to come alongside Christ in some of the toughest communities (rumor has it he may be returning to blogworld very soon).
• Jordan Bley - Terry's nephew. Was a part of the SOAR '05 class. He's living the same adventure as Ted in Chicago.
• Nate Easley - Graduated from IWU in '06, now works in Fort Wayne with Biomet. He and his wife just had a baby, and they're diving into their church there.

In the midst of the trash talking, food, and draft pics, I realized how awesome it is to where these guys are at in they're lives, and where they've come from.
There's something awesome about being there for the long haul with people.